[Value of HL-A groups in diagnosis in rheumatology]

Since 1972, several relations have been demonstrated between some HL-A antigens and some articular diseases. The W27 antigen frequency is highly increased in ankylosing spondylitis (88%) and in Reiter disease (78%) compared with controls (5%). In peripheral forms of psoriatic rheumatism, the W17 and HL-A13 antigens are more frequent (24% and 15%) than in healthy subjects (4% and 5%). In central forms of psoriatic rheumatism, there is a relation with W27 (48%) and still, we do not know if this association concerns only spondylitis or also sacro-iletis. The HL-A typing may be useful for the diagnosis of some rheumatologic diseases, when for the diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis. The relation between W27 and ankylosing spondylitis is cleanly stronger than that between Waaler-Rose reaction and rheumatoid arthritis.